Removable trailer hitch



Nov. 27, 195] w, KAMMERER 2,576,461

REMOVABLE TRAILER HITCH Filed Aug. 12. 1948 Aecwse W 164411145252,

. INVENTOR.

nauhiwlhlr W v 1 BY 35 34 jg 16' fir oeMe-y.

,J'ecting hitch parts are dangerousyin that they :may become hooked .inadvertently to other vehicles, as' during parkingandymay damage: such other vehicles; as well. asacauseinjury .tOTPGlSOIlfl.

line. 33 'on .Fig. 2;

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES I p NT OFFICE REMOVABLE TRAILER' HIT'CH .Archer 2W.- Kammerer,wFullerton flalif.

Application-August 12, I948;*SeriaI'N0.43;790

-.-12=.Glaims.

vThe. present. invention relates;tortrailerseand .Jmoreparticularly tdhitches which servexto couple Y trailers to automobiles or similar vehicles.

Trailerqhitches, as heretofore constituted,..;embody portions thatuproject substantially "from the vehicles to which they. arersecured'rwhenithe trailers are not coupled .to. the-vehicles. ample, 'therhitchmayi project considerablyaabove or below the rear vehicle bumper. The ipro- It is, accordinglmyan-object, of. the present invention to provide a trailer hitch :whichdoes not embody parts projectingsubstantially or dangerously from the vehicle when the vT'hitch -is;not. in use.

Another-object of-the invention isvtora rovide a trailer hitch capable of being:assembledconor dismantled from-a vehicleinarrapid and facile manner.

Still another objectiof theginvention isito ;p1.ovide a. trailer hitch'capable of menu vehicles having bodies substantially overhanging :theirear bumper brackets.

A further object of the invention is"toz'provide 1a trailer hitch .device that :can zbescarriedaby an automobile or: similar vehicle, and incwhich' most of the device can be. removed easilyifrom the automobile when notinzuse.

This invention possesses :many "other advantages; andlhas other objects whichamay be-made more cclearly apparent from a consideration of several forms-in which it rmay -be embodied.-

iSuch' formsare shown. in the 'drawingsraccomipanyingzand forming part'of thepresentwspecification. detail; illustrating the general .principles=of--the invention; but it is, to beaunderstoodthatisuch These forms will now' be .described in detailed description is not to be taken'in alimi-ting sense, since the :scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

a Referring to the "drawings:

Figure .1.1sv a top plan view ofcone'form of the "invention applied to theirear of an automobile;

Fig. -2 is an-enlarged top plan'view'ot ai'rportionof the trailer: hitch: device: disclosedzinii'igr 1;

Fig.3 is a 1ongitudinal' sectionetaken along the Figrd is a view simliar tofrFig; Y.1:of:.=a modified .formof the invention; and

Fig. 5 is. an-enlarged longitudinal-section taken along theline" 55- onFig: 4.

As disclosed in Fig. 'lllit.v isadesiredztoncouple-'- '20 upper edge of .the bumper I 2.

or est-33.144)

the forward end :ofvatrailer frame l .toithe rear ofsan'automobilell orsimilar vehicle. J'I'he automobile has the :usualrear bumper [2,;dis-

posed behind its body l3 and attached :to-rits 5* frame r301 chassis [4 :by the usual bumper brackets-l5.

A- rigid :cross-member ;or bar 16 :issuitably secured,.in a known manner, ,to "the upperaor lower side :of the :bumper brackets IE, .or "automobile'rchassis I14. .As'disclosed in'the drawin s,

the cross-member l6 is placed above the-bumper :brackets for convenience of illustration.

A tubular member ll,v in the form of anin- .ternall-y threaded sleeve or nut,.i-s weldedtothe 'cross-rmember l6 substantially centrally of the -30.-hole :2l;.is provided in this portion, into which tthelowerxthreaded shank portion 1'2 of a coupling umember 23 may. be received. The upper head :end :of ".thecoupling member is in the'form; of

a sphere or ball 24 over which the usual clamp 5 socket zttattachedxtothe trailer frame lllis disposed, in. a known manner. The threaded courpling memberUZS is prevented from unscrewing efrom therextension It. by a lock nut 25 threaded on the :shanlc 22. of: the coupling member and r jammedzagainst the underside of the offsetaextension: portion .2 B.

The extensionis'isxthreadedinto the sleeve I! to tithe desired: extent, and WithJthe. Ofiset-xpor- .itiQnt'ZOJdiSpOsed inua; downward directionwto 1oucate the:threa'dedi hole -2l vertically. "Thereafter,

.:-.a jam or rlockznut; 21, which *hasipreviouslyizbeen threadedup'onthe shank I9 of'the extension is :Ltig'htened againstthe, outer end I 1a of the. sleeve, esuch tightening being permitted .becauserof :the

" slight overhanging ;of :the sleeve :beyond the iabumper. ;.The jam nutyzl holds thecooperating 1: threads congthecextension shank J59: andpsleeve I 1 r.- in: snug engagement: with each. otherzandi prevents .;,,loosening: or.'.'ratt1ing. :,of the; v:parts, "thatvuwcould vetherwisecbe;conduciveatozwear. v I v cross-member 23.

The offset portion allows the center of the ball 24 to be placed closer to the axis of the extension shank l9, and thereby reduces the moment arm between the ball center and the shank axis that might tend to allow lateral movement of the trailer frame to rotate the extension 18 in the sleeve [1. The offset portion 20 not only minimizes the above rotary tendencies, but it also provides ample space for the clamp socket 25 on the trailer to be properly disposed about the ball 24.

A ring 2 8 may be welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to one side of the threaded sleeve [1, in order to provide an anchor for the usual safety chain (not shown) running between the automobile II and the trailer ID. This chain connecting element 23 does not interfere with the operation of the trailer hitch in any particular.

When the hitch is not in use, substantially all of it can be removed from the vehicle. Thus, the

jam nut 2'! may be loosened and the threaded extension is unscrewed from the sleeve H. The

latter; together with the cross bar It, may re- 1 main attached to the vehicle at all times. the sleeve ll projects vertically above the bumper Since to only a slight extent, and has a smooth, cylindrical exterior, it will not readily snag or catch on other objects, such as the front bumper of another vehicle disposed to the rear. The sleeve l l projects only slightly beyond the bumper l2 and creates an absence of. any member projecting substantially beyond the bumper, which may cause damage to the property of others.

When the trailer isto be used, it is a simple matter to thread the extension it into the sleeve H, with the coupling member 23 disposed vertically, and to tighten the nut 27 against the outer end Ila of the sleeve.

Certain types of vehicles, such as station wagons, have their body members projecting sub 'stantially over the bumper brackets. jran'gement precludes the use of prior trailer hitches, in which the ball coupling member is This armounted directly upon the cross-member [6. The

"device described above can be used on station [wagons and the like, since the threaded sleeve or collar l1, although extending between the body and the bumper, allows the ball connecting member 23' to be disposed substantially beyond the rear bumper 12, or away from the vehicle body.

' 4 and 5, a stronger construction is provided by welding two internally threaded sleeves 29 to the cross-member or bar IS on opposite sides of the vehicle center line. These sleeves have bolts 39 threaded into them, the bolts extending through holes 3| in a cross-member 32, in which the hitch connecting member 33 is mounted. Thus, the threaded shank 34 of the connecting member 33 is screwed through the cross-member 32, and a lock nut 35 disposed on its lower end in tight bearing relation against the underside of the The bolt extensions are prevented from unscrewing from the threaded sleeves 29 by jam or lock nuts 36 threaded on the bolts and bearing against the sleeves.

When the trailer hitch is not to be used, the jam nuts 36 are loosened and the two bolts 30 are unscrewed from the threaded sleeves 29. These .latter members project only slightly beyond the bumper I2 and will not damage adjacent vehicles 4 l or other objects during use of the vehicle to which they are secured.

The spaced sleeve and bolt arrangement 29, 30 provides a two-point support for the trailer hitch and forms a sturdy and strong construction. The bolts 39 and the intervening jam nuts 36 may be made of any desired length, so as to dispose the trailer coupling member 33 further from or closer to the vehicle, if desired.

Theinventor claims:

1. In a trailer hitch: a cross-member adapted to be secured to a vehicle having a rear bumper; a threaded member attached to said crossmember and extending to a point adjacent said bumper; an extension threadedly attached to said threaded member and having a portion ofiset in a downward direction with respect to the axis of said member; and a trailer coupling element secured to said offset portion and extending substantially perpendicular thereto.

2. In a trailer hitch: a cross-member adapted to be secured to a vehicle having a rear bumper; an internally threaded sleeve attached to said cross-member; an extension threaded into said sleeve and having a portion offset in a downward direction with respect to the axis of said sleeve; and a trailer coupling element secured to said offset portion and extending substantially perpendicular thereto.

3. In a trailer hitch: a cross-member adapted to be secured to a vehicle having a rear bumper; an internally threaded sleeve attached to said cross-member; an extension threaded into said sleeve and having a portion offset in a downward direction with respect to the axis of said sleeve; and a trailer coupling element having a shank portion extending into said ofiset portion and also having a generally spherical head adapted to receive a companion coupling element on a trailer.

4. In a trailer hitch: a cross-piece adapted to be secured to a vehicle; a plurality of spaced internally threaded sleeves secured to said crosspiece; extension elements threaded into said sleeves; a cross-member mounted on said extensions; and a coupling element secured to said cross-member.

5. In a trailer hitch: a cross-member adapted to be secured to a vehicle having a rear bumper; a threaded member rigidly attached to said cross-member; an extension member threaded onto said threaded member; a lock nut threaded on one of said members and engaging the other of said members; and a trailer coupling element secured to said extension member.

6. In a trailer hitch? a cross-member adapted to be secured to a vehicle having a rear bumper; a threaded member attached to said crossmember; an extension threadedly attached to said threaded member and having a portion offset with respect to the axis of said member; and a trailer coupling element secured to said ofiset portion.

7. In a trailer hitch: a cross-member adapted to be secured to the rear portion of a vehicle; an internally threaded sleeve attached to said cross-member; an extension threaded into said sleeve and having a portion offset with respect to the axis of said sleeve; and a trailer coupling element secured to said offset portion and extending substantially perpendicular thereto.

8. In a trailer hitch: a cross-member adapted to be secured to the rear portion of a vehicle; an internally threaded sleeve attached to said cross-member; an extension threaded into said sleeve and having a portion offset with respect to the axis of said sleeve; and a trailer coupling element having a' shank portion extending into said offset portion and also having a generally spherical head adapted to receive a companion coupling element on a trailer.

9. In a trailer hitch: a cross-piece adapted to be secured to a vehicle; a plurality of spaced members rigidly secured to said cross-piece and extending transversely of said cross-piece; an extension for each member mounted coaxially of and detachably and rigidly secured directly to each member, each extension extending axially outwardly beyond the member to which it is secured; a cross-member rearwardly of said members mounted on and extending between said extensions; and a trailer coupling element secured to said cross-member.

10. In a trailer hitch: a cross-piece adapted to be secured to a vehicle; a plurality of spaced members rigidly attached to said cross-piece with their axes disposed transversely of said cross-piece; an extension coaxial of each memher and detachably and rigidly secured directly to each member by axial movement along said member, each extension extending axially outwardly beyond the member to which it is secured; a cross-member rearwardly of said members mounted on and extended between said extensions; and a trailer coupling element secured to said cross-member.

11. In a trailer hitch: a cross-piece adapted to be secured to a vehicle; a plurality of spaced members rigidly secured to said cross-piece, each member having its axis disposed transversely of said cross-piece; an extension mounted on and detachably and rigidly secured to each of said members and having its axis coaxial of the axis of the member to which it is secured; and means including a trailer coupling element carried by said extensions rearwardly of said spaced members.

12. In a trailer hitch: a cross-piece adapted to be secured to a vehicle; a plurality of threaded members spaced along and secured to said crosspiece; extension elements threaded on the threaded portions of said members; a crossmember mounted on said extension elements; and a coupling element secured to said crossmember.

ARCHER W. KAMMERER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

